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Lighting up cancer cells

UWE Bristol has been a centre of excellence in biosensor
research since the 1990s, with its expertise being applied in a
wide range of areas including food and environmental monitoring,
and supplying biosensors to research groups worldwide.

Professor Vyv Salisbury of UWE Bristol’s Centre for
Research in Biosciences, is using gene technology to develop a
rapid predictive test to allow tailored chemotherapy for leukaemia
patients.

“These biosensors use genetically
modified bacteria that emit light when alive. They can be used to
monitor the effectiveness of drugs and to rapidly predict the
effects of cancer chemotherapy on leukemic cells.”

The biosensor has been patented and is
being used in a rapid assay that will be marketed by Randox Laboratories.
Its application will allow patient specific chemotherapy, initially
for one drug used in the treatment of Acute Myeloid
Leukaemia, but in future it could be used for combinations of
drugs used in chemotherapy for a range of malignancies, including
solid tumours.

“It is this area that excites me the
most,” says Vyv, “I am very keen to try and extend the research to
see if we can design biosensors for predictive testing of
chemotherapy for solid tumours such as breast and bowel
cancer."

The development of bioluminescent
bacterial biosensors requires multidisciplinary expertise and
collaboration with a wide range of partners. Vyv appreciates that
“the research programme has been helped immensely by being at
UWE Bristol, and particularly having colleagues with expertise in
optics, analytical chemistry, genetic engineering and
haematology.

The importance of good relationships
with the health service and a strong commercial partner are also
crucial for the successful development of new healthcare
devices.